Time switch



7 Aug. 26, 1947. L. R. HARMON TIME SWITCH Filed Oct. 17, 1945 IN V EN TOR. Zaf/kev 1? 15 47 175070 Patented Aug. 26, 1947 TIME SWITCH Luther R. Harmon, Chicago,

IlL, assignor of onealf to Fred J. Burt and one-half to William D.

Lloyd Application October 17, 1945, Serial No. 622,753

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a time switch involving a suction cup and concerns itself with a cup made of yieldable material such as elastic rubber or other suitable material that can be readily compressed and in which the contacting edge of the cup is at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the cup and in which the contacted base slopes slightly with respect to a horizontal plane.

According to this invention, the suction cup is adapted to be turned or rotated, before impingement with the base, to vary the angularity of the contacting surfaces, thereby varying the vacuum or suction effect, thus regulating the time period of the switch. The invention eliminates the air inlet parts in the cup as exist in the prior art and depends for air release under the less compressed portion of the cup.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of this invention, and in which similar reference numerals refer to: similar features in the diiferent views:

Fig, 1 is a sectional view through a time switch embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with parts in diiierent position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged omitted;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective controlling member.

In referring now to the drawing, there is shown a casin 5 in the form of a hood open at the top and bottom. A base of Bakelite 6 is secured in the bottom of the casing and forms an insulated contact member. The upper surface Ba of thebase is slightly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. This inclination may be varied within practicable limits. The base has a central recess 11 in which the contacting parts of a time switch are located. The switch consists of a stationary blade 8 which may be set in a groove in the top of the base with its contact portion extending in depressed form into the recess 7. The movable switch member 9 is similarly mounted upon the base upon the opposite side of the recess with its contact en'd extending over the contact end of the stationary member 8. Terminals l0 and II extend through the base from the switch blades.

A hollow bearing I4 is fastened in the upper end of the casing which has a cylindrical neck So for top plan view with parts view of the compression such a purpose. A plunger l5 provided with a button or head l6 at its upper end extends through the hollow bearing and carries the vacuum cup ll at its lower end. The plunger has a lower porcelain knob l8 that is adapted to strike the switch blade 9 which may have an upstanding stud 9:1 for such a purpose and force the same against the blade 8 for closing the switch. The knob also serves to confine the Vacuum cup upon the plunger. It will be noted that the vacuum cup has a comparatively long neck portion Ila which normally abuts the bottom of the bearing l4 and limits the upward movement of the cup. A coil spring l9 surrounds the plunger and extends from the bottom of the bearing M to the button l6 and is effective for elevating the plunger when the Vacuum is released. The spring l9 must of course have the proper tension.

The top of the bearing M has its upper surface in the form of two oppositely inclined sections Ma and Mb which are provided with spaced grooves 20 adapted for receiving the end portions of a transverse pin 2| extending through the shank of the button when such pin is in registry with opposite grooves of the sections. Each pair of directly opposite grooves 20 in the sections are at different elevations and provide for difierent degrees of compression of the suction cup. Each pair will hence provide for a different time limit for the switch which may be indicated by the graduations 22a on a dial plate 22 secured to the casing 5. The graduations will be placed adjacent the grooves as shown in Fig. 4 for this purpose and may be appropriately marked.

In the use of the device, the plunger is turned according to the timing desired and is depressed. The angularity of the cup with respect to the plane of the base and the pin 2| with the desired grooves 20 will produce the proper compression of the cup to remain in contact with the base for the desired time. This angularity will produce a greater compression of the cup at the higher elevations of the base, and less compression at the lower elevations. The high elasticity of the cup will allow air to gradually enter under the portion of least compression for eventually breaking the vacuum to the point where the spring will elevate the cup.

When the plunger is depressed, the porcelain knob l8 will engage and depress the switch blade 9 for closing the switch and maintain it in closed position as long as the vacuum cup remains down.

It will be obvious that in using an imperforate vacuum cup with an angular relation with its base and which can be compressed various degrees, it is possible to vary the timing of the switch by turning the cup and varying the compression thereof when applied to the base. This results in a convenient adjustment.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details of construction may be modified without departing from the principles of this invention, so I do not propose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a time switch, a base member, an imperforate vacuum cup adapted for engaging the upper surface of said base member for closing a switch, the plane of the upper surface of said base and the plane of the lower edge of said cup having an angular relation, and yielding means normally tending to elevate said cup.

2. In a time switch, a base member and an imperforate vacuum cup adapted for engaging the upper surface of said base member for closing a switch, the plane of the upper surface of said base member having a slope with respect to the axis of said vacuum for causing unequal compression of said vacuum cup when engaging said base, and yielding means for elevating said cup.

3, In a time switch, a base member having an upper contactable surface inclined with respect to a vertical axis, an imperforate vacuum cup having its lower edge in a plane inclined with respect to its axis, and means for turning said cup for varying the angularity of the plane of its contacting edge with the plane of the contacted surface of said base and yielding means normally acting to elevate said cup.

4. In a time switch, a base member having an upper contactable surface at an angle to a vertical plane, an imperforate vacuum cup having its axis in a vertical plane and its lower edge in a plane at an angle to said axis and adapted for engaging said base, means for limiting the compression of said cup against said base, and yielding means normally acting to elevate said cup from said base.

5. In a time switch, a base member having an upper contactable surface in a plane inclined with respect to a vertical plane, an imperforate vacuum cup having a vertical axis with the plane of its lower edge inclined with respect to said axis, means whereby said cup may be rotated for varying its angularity with said base. means for limiting the compression of said cup against said base, said means having surfaces allowing variable compression of said cup and yielding means normally tending to raise said cup from said base.

6. In a time switch, a base member having a contactable surface, an imperforate vacuum cup adapted for engaging said surface for closing a switch, the lower edge of said cup and said contactable surface being in non-parallel planes, said cup being rotatable, means for limiting and varying the compression of said cup upon said base, and yielding means normally acting against said cup for raising the same from said base.

7. In a time switch, a casing having a neck portion and an insulated base, a spring pressed plunger extending through said neck portion, a vacuum cup carried by said plunger and adapted for engaging said base for closing a switch, said neck portion having contact points at its upper end at different elevations and means on said plunger for engaging said contact points for the purpose set forth.

8. In a time switch of the class described, a casing, a vertical plunger mounted in said casing for reciprocating movements, vacuum cup carried by said plunger, a member carried by the lower end of said casing for engagement by said cup and relatively adjustable means between said plunger and casing for varying the stroke of said plunger and the compression of said cup for the purpose set forth.

9. In a time switch of the class described, a casing, a plunger mounted in said casing for reciprocating movements, an imperforate vacuum cup carried by the lower end of said plunger, and a member carried by the lower end of said casing for engagement by said cup, said plunger and casing having coacting means adapted for relative adjustment for varying the stroke of said plunger and the compression of said cup for varying the timing of said switch.

LUTHER R. HARMON. 

